The Tribute in Light shines brightly over the Lower Manhattan skyline in memory of the loss of the World Trade Towers in the Sept. 11th attacks. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/11/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

The Tribute in Light shines brightly over the Lower Manhattan skyline in memory of the loss of the World Trade Towers in the Sept. 11th attacks. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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The Tribute in Light shines brightly over the Lower Manhattan skyline in memory of the loss of the World Trade Towers in the Sept. 11th attacks. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/11/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

The Tribute in Light shines brightly over the Lower Manhattan skyline in memory of the loss of the World Trade Towers in the Sept. 11th attacks. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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Tracy Armentano, clutching a photo of the Twin Towers, of Rocky Hill, Conn. makes the visit to Ground Zero for the fourth straight year. A block from the World Trade Center site. She looks over the memorial display at House 10-FDNY at the south edge of Ground Zero. The evening before the anniversary of 9/11, around the Ground Zero site. A visit to New York City as it prepares for the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/10/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

Tracy Armentano, clutching a photo of the Twin Towers, of Rocky Hill, Conn. makes the visit to Ground Zero for the fourth straight year. A block from the World Trade Center site. She looks over the memorial ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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Frank Gotlibowski, (right)clutching a photo of the Twin Towers, of Rocky Hill, Conn. makes the visit to Ground Zero for the fourth straight year. He looks over a collection of photographs taken the first few days after the attacks, taken by Robert Gayer of Long Island, at House 10-FDNY at the south edge of Ground Zero. The evening before the anniversary of 9/11, around the Ground Zero site. A visit to New York City as it prepares for the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/10/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

Frank Gotlibowski, (right)clutching a photo of the Twin Towers, of Rocky Hill, Conn. makes the visit to Ground Zero for the fourth straight year. He looks over a collection of photographs taken the first few ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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Frank Gotlibowski, clutching a photo of the Twin Towers, of Rocky Hill, Conn. makes the visit to Ground Zero for the fourth straight year. He looks over the memorial display at House 10-FDNY at the south edge of Ground Zero. The evening before the anniversary of 9/11, around the Ground Zero site. A visit to New York City as it prepares for the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/10/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

Frank Gotlibowski, clutching a photo of the Twin Towers, of Rocky Hill, Conn. makes the visit to Ground Zero for the fourth straight year. He looks over the memorial display at House 10-FDNY at the south edge ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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On the eve of the 9/11 anniversary. Joanna and Tony Edwards with the Greater Manchester Police Department, make the trip to New York for the third time to honor New York. They stop at the FDNY Firehouse 10 next to Ground Zero. The evening before the anniversary of 9/11, around the Ground Zero site. A visit to New York City as it prepares for the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/10/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

On the eve of the 9/11 anniversary. Joanna and Tony Edwards with the Greater Manchester Police Department, make the trip to New York for the third time to honor New York. They stop at the FDNY Firehouse 10 next ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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The eve of the 9/11 anniversary. Dean Marriott and Andy Hawkins, of the West Midlands, England Police Dept. at O'Hara's Bar next to Ground Zero. This the third trip to honor New York they have made. toast the firefighters of FDNY The evening before the anniversary of 9/11, around the Ground Zero site. A visit to New York City as it prepares for the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/10/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

The eve of the 9/11 anniversary. Dean Marriott and Andy Hawkins, of the West Midlands, England Police Dept. at O'Hara's Bar next to Ground Zero. This the third trip to honor New York they have made. toast the ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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The eve of 9/11 anniversary. The FDNY Pipe and Drum Corp. play a tribute at the south edge of Ground Zero at House 10 of the New York Fire Department. Drummer Patrick Maloney, 92 Engine on drum.The evening before the anniversary of 9/11, around the Ground Zero site. A visit to New York City as it prepares for the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/10/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

The eve of 9/11 anniversary. The FDNY Pipe and Drum Corp. play a tribute at the south edge of Ground Zero at House 10 of the New York Fire Department. Drummer Patrick Maloney, 92 Engine on drum.The evening ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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Gina Falciglia of NY remembers Michael Keifer, her future brother in law who was lost in the 9/11 attacks. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/11/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

Gina Falciglia of NY remembers Michael Keifer, her future brother in law who was lost in the 9/11 attacks. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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Family and friends remember their loved ones on this the 5th anniversary. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/11/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

Family and friends remember their loved ones on this the 5th anniversary. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 year ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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New York City Police Moira Smith, is remembered by her husband James and 7 year old daughter Patricia. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/11/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

New York City Police Moira Smith, is remembered by her husband James and 7 year old daughter Patricia. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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Loved ones are remembered during the ceremony. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/11/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

Loved ones are remembered during the ceremony. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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Thousands of family and friends attended the anniversary ceremony. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/11/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

Thousands of family and friends attended the anniversary ceremony. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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Trumpeter Winton Marsales plays during the ceremonies. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/11/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

Trumpeter Winton Marsales plays during the ceremonies. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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Emotions run high as the names of every person lost in the 9/11 attacks is read out loud. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/11/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

Emotions run high as the names of every person lost in the 9/11 attacks is read out loud. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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Emotions run high as the names of every person lost in the 9/11 attacks is read out loud. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/11/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

Emotions run high as the names of every person lost in the 9/11 attacks is read out loud. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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Family and friends of loved ones make their way to the bottom of the area of the South Tower to pay their respects.The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/11/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

Family and friends of loved ones make their way to the bottom of the area of the South Tower to pay their respects.The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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Family and friends make their way to the bottom of the "Footprint" of the South Tower to pay their repects to loved ones, with bouquets of flowers. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/11/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

Family and friends make their way to the bottom of the "Footprint" of the South Tower to pay their repects to loved ones, with bouquets of flowers. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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Hundres of family and friends of loved ones make their way into the lower reaches of the South Tower to pay thier respects. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/11/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

Hundres of family and friends of loved ones make their way into the lower reaches of the South Tower to pay thier respects. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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A photograph of firefighter, Paul John Gill is held high during the ceremony. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Event in, New York, NY, on 9/11/06. Photo by: Michael Macor/ San Francisco Chronicle less

A photograph of firefighter, Paul John Gill is held high during the ceremony. The anniversary of 9/11. The official commemoration ceremony takes place at Ground Zero. A visit to New York City, the 5 year ... more

Photo: Michael Macor

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President Bush and first lady Laura Bush listen with members of the New York City fire department at the Fort Pitt Firehouse on the lower east side of Manhattan Monday, Sept. 11, 2006 in New York during a ceremony remembering those lost in the terrorist attacks five years ago. The door at center is from a fire truck that responded to the attacks on the World Trade Center. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) less

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush listen with members of the New York City fire department at the Fort Pitt Firehouse on the lower east side of Manhattan Monday, Sept. 11, 2006 in New York during a ... more

Photo: JULIE JACOBSON

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Family members listen to the names of those killed in the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center during the fifth anniversary of the attacks, in New York September 11, 2006. REUTERS/Justin Lane/Pool (UNITED STATES) less

Family members listen to the names of those killed in the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center during the fifth anniversary of the attacks, in New York September 11, 2006. REUTERS/Justin Lane/Pool ... more

Photo: POOL

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U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush sit down for breakfast with emergency first responders during the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, at the Fort Pitt Firehouse in New York September 11, 2006. REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES) less

U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush sit down for breakfast with emergency first responders during the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, at the Fort Pitt Firehouse in New ... more

Photo: JASON REED

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A group of anti-Bush protestors move to retrieve their sign after it was ripped down by Roger Clark, center, of Brooklyn, as the names of victims are read at ground zero on the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks Monday, Sept. 11, 2006 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) less

A group of anti-Bush protestors move to retrieve their sign after it was ripped down by Roger Clark, center, of Brooklyn, as the names of victims are read at ground zero on the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 ... more

Photo: JASON DECROW

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NYC observes fifth anniversary of 9/11 attack

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2006-09-11 10:16:00 PDT NEW YORK -- On a bright and sunny morning much like the one five years ago today, New York City observed the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

At 8:46 a.m., shortly after the beginning of the ceremony at the site of the former World Trade Center, a moment of silence marked the time that the north tower was struck by a plane. Then church bells rang and rang.

The event, a sad and annual ritual, also paused at 9:03 a.m., the time the south tower was struck, at 9:59, when it collapsed, and at 10:29, when the north tower fell.

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On an elevated stage on the west side of the concrete crater once occupied by the twin towers, 230 spouses, partners and significant others of the 2,749 World Trade Center victims read their loved ones' names.

The list was alphabetized. An hour into the ceremony, the readers had just arrived at those names beginning with the letter "E."

The readers were framed by high-rises on all sides and a mix of old and new Manhattan.

The steeple of St. Paul's chapel poked above a clump of trees; the tower of the misspelled Millenium Hotel rose unobstructed.

Below the stage, thousands of the victims' relatives spread out. Some held up photos, wore T-shirts or carried signs bearing the likenesses of their loved ones.

Some clutched little American flags that rippled in the breeze. Others hugged bouquets to their chest -- later, they would descend the ramp to the bottom of Ground Zero and leave them in the pit.

It was a day in which politicians read poetry and firefighters cried.

New York Gov. George Pataki said, "Of all those we know in life, it is our chosen mate -- the companion of our days -- to whom we entrust our deepest selves. And in turn, we celebrate that person for exactly who they are. In their passing, an essential piece of us is torn away."

Then he read a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay. It said in part, "The answers quick and keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love. They are gone ... I know. But I do not approve."